This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

The wait is almost over as The Bachelor Canada is set to debut Wednesday on Citytv, with former CFLer Brad Smith stepping into the spotlight to try to find love with one of 25 bachelorettes from across the nation.

When Brad, who turns 29 on Tuesday, was announced as the “chosen one” back in May, I immediately thought two things: 1) I hope he finds the one; and 2) I hope he introduces me to the other 24 girls when the show’s over.

You see me and Smith, or Smitty as I like to call him, are long-time friends. We’re both from Montreal and have known each other since Grade 7. We graduated Lower Canada College high school together and attended Queen’s University together. We had some amazing times there, and while I can’t recall what our majors were, we did — eventually — graduate. I moved to Toronto to pursue a career in television (I now host the TV series Oh So Cosmo on CosmoTV) and Brad went off to follow his dream of being a professional football player. Having recently become a free agent, he was on a family trip in Barbados when he got the call to be the first Canadian Bachelor.

My time spent with Brad has always been full of surprises, like the time he came home with an adopted dog in university or when he got a lightning bolt tattoo on his chest, but none of that comes close to the sheer shock when I heard he was going to be the first Bachelor Canada. My friend spent the summer filming the series and looking for love in Victoria, B.C. Although Brad is a very charismatic and photogenic guy, being on camera was at first nerve-racking for him.

“The first day I felt really confident right up until the cameras started rolling, then I was like, ‘Wait what do I do?’” Brad told me.

Article Continued Below

First-day jitters aside, I know Brad is the right man for the job because he’s in it for the right reasons. “I am genuinely sincere toward this process,” he told me. “I know that the end point of this process, finding someone, is what I want. I feel like I’ve come a long way and deserve love.”

Brad comes from a close-knit family. I happened to be with Brad when The Bachelor Canada promo first aired on Citytv. His phone suddenly erupted with congratulatory calls from his older brother, Wesley; sister Ashley and parents, ex-CFL commissioner and current Senator Larry Smith and Leesa, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year.

“Everyone’s excited for Brad,” Larry Smith has said.

Needless to say I’m excited for Brad, too, and I’m already a Bachelor Canada fan without having seen a single episode. For the duration of the show, I’ll be blogging for the Toronto Star and writing for the paper as your go-to-guy involving anything Brad. I’ll also be interviewing Brad weekly so feel free to tweet me @WilderWeir with any burning questions you might have for him.

Last week, the final five bachelorettes were revealed, making for a grand total of 25 women who will compete for the final rose.

Brad hasn’t really had many “Facebook official” girlfriends in the past and his first real love ended in heartbreak, but he definitely has a type. Brad has said that he’s looking for “someone with a sense of humour, drive, intelligence, beauty, a willingness to go with the flow and who is athletic or loves sports.” He clearly knows what he wants, but he can be pretty indecisive. With that in mind, I’ve taken the liberty of choosing the five women he’s most likely to find love with, and the women his parents might prefer to receive the final rose (Larry, I hope you don’t mind).

WHO BRAD WILL PICK, ACCORDING TO WILDER

• Kara, 25 (Delta, B.C.): Kara is a stunner and former athlete. Her looks and competitive edge will put her through to the top five.

• Bianka, 28 (Mississauga, Ont.): This beauty looks like a Canadian Kim Kardashian, which is totally Brad’s type. Although he might not be able to get past the fact that Kris Humphries actually dated Bianka before leaving her for the real Kim Kardashian . . . true story.

• Ana, 26 (Ottawa, Ont.): She seems like the kind of girl Brad might have dated in the past. She’s a confident, Romanian bartender with a tattoo on her ribs.

WHO BRAD’S PARENTS WOULD PICK, ACCORDING TO WILDER

• Britany, 23 (Swift Current, Sask.): Brad has a history of injuries to his body and his heart. This westerner is a total sweetheart and nurse. I’m guessing Brad’s mom might have some peace of mind with Britany around.

• Gabrielle, 24 (Oakville, Ont.): Why wouldn’t you want a future lawyer in the family? Don’t you know how much they charge per hour?

• Laura B, 23 (Ottawa, Ont.): Who wouldn’t want this cutie in their family? She’s a big Ottawa Senators fan, so I think Mr. Smith (a real senator) could be a fan of hers.

Wilder Weir is a TV host and producer. You can watch him on the CosmoTV show Oh So Cosmo every Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Visit thestar.com/bachelor the morning after every show for a recap of the episode, and to read what our resident experts have to say about his pursuit of love.

Delivered dailyThe Morning Headlines Newsletter

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com